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Earth-Kind Roses: An Introduction





Some Earth-Kind Roses
As a child growing up in Iowa, I always wanted my mom to grow roses.  I remember her explaining to me that roses just don't do well in Iowa.  I didn't understand why, but she said they were just too much trouble and they probably wouldn't survive the winter anyway.  My daughter, who was taking a floriculture class at the time, was appalled to learn that at one time, Hybrid Tea Rose growers in Iowa utilized a method known as the "Minnesota tip" for wintering roses.  With this method, about a month before the first frost, the rose bush is dug up, laid on its side and buried to protect it from the treacherous winter season.  In the spring, the bush is dug up and replanted for the growing season.  Even though this is no longer common practice, it was thought to be very efficient at one time.  Needless to say, we always had beautiful gardens and landscaping, but no roses.  They were just too much trouble.  Interestingly, it isn't common to find many others growing them around my Iowa hometown, either.

When I moved to hot sunny West Texas as an adult in the late 90's, I was under the impression that I would finally be able to grow roses.  I tried a few miniature rose plants, but they always died because I had no idea how to care for them.

Eventually, in 2006, my mother moved to Texas with me.  The first house we bought had several huge old Hybrid Tea roses growing in the back yard, but they were very tall and spindly as they had not been cared for properly or pruned for several years previously.  We had no choice but to dig them all out and start fresh.  I was SO disappointed!  But, my mom was a Master Gardener, so I'm pretty sure she knew what she was talking about.

Because of my mom's green thumb, I figured new rose plants were in order.  She explained, however, that the hot and dry conditions of our semi-arid climate presented a whole new host of problems for roses and that once again, they would not be worth the trouble. Somewhere along the line, though, she discovered a brand new rose called a "Knock Out", which was introduced in 2000.  She said these roses may actually do okay and that we could try a couple bushes to find out.  This was my first introduction to Earth-Kind Roses.
Knock Out Rose

Those first few Knock Out roses we planted took off like crazy.  They were covered with blooms from spring into fall, needed no special care and basically took care of themselves. We rarely even watered them.  Even though we no longer live in that house, those roses are still there 10 years later.  They are just as healthy, vibrant and beautiful as they were when we first planted them.
Knock Out Rose Bloom

 Knock Out Roses are designated an Earth-Kind Rose by the Texas State Extension Service and thrive in virtually any growing conditions from the bitter winters in the North, to the searing summers of south and western Texas.  Mom and I realized we had found something really exciting for rose-lovers everywhere.

In the house where we now live, we have several flourishing rose bushes, most of which are Earth-Kind Roses.  We have a few Belinda's Dream roses (my favorite), a Mutabilis, several Knock Outs, and a New Dawn climbing rose.  These are all Earth-Kind Roses.  We also have Quietness and a Carefree Beauty shrub rose, both of which are Earth-Kind Roses, but also have the special classification of being "Buck Roses."
New Dawn Climbing Rose--Late August

 Buck Roses are a group of 93 patented roses developed by Iowa State University Horticulture Professor Dr. Griffith Buck.  In his treatise The Rose, Dr. Buck states, "The rose has the distinction of being one of the longest cultivated ornamental plants to be found in today's gardens. It owes that distinction in no small way to the fact that roses are found in the wild around the globe between the Arctic Circle and the equatorial zone." 

Dr. Griffith Buck 1966
With this in mind, the rose breeding program Dr. Buck started at Iowa State University in the 1940's sought to address an ongoing issue:  wild rose species around the world were hardy and disease-free, but only bloomed once a year and in a limited color range (white to medium pink).  They were also quite large, sometimes 15 feet tall and equally as wide.  Hybrid Tea roses developed during the 19th and 20th centuries flowered repeatedly on bushes of a manageable size, but were subject to a host of diseases and could not survive extremely cold temperatures.  He sought to overcome these issues by creating roses that flowered continuously throughout the growing season with little or no fertilizers or pesticides, were drought and cold hardy, demanded little maintenance, and would grow in a variety of garden situations while remaining a manageable size.
Quietness--Found in Dr. Buck's personal garden in 2000, after his death.  It was officially introduced in 2002 and named to honor those who died in the attacks on the World Trade Center on September 11, 2001. 
Dr. Buck began creating 21st century roses in 1947, when the only demand gardeners placed on their roses was that they produce exhibition quality roses on long stems.  Only in the last ten years or so has the trend from exhibition quality blooms to easy-care roses rapidly gained momentum.  

To begin finding roses that would withstand the frigid Iowa winters, Buck had a very simple approach.  He planted several known cultivars of roses out in a field in Iowa and then left them alone.  The few that survived that first winter with no protection whatsoever were used as the parent stock for his initial breeding program. That is why, of the 93 cultivars Buck developed, 87 have another Buck rose in their parentage.

"Buck Roses" is a category used in the rose trade to indicate those roses that are cold-hardy and disease free. The American Rose Society, in 1997, established the Griffith Buck Memorial Rose Trophy in honor of Dr. Buck's incredible contribution to the field of rose hybridization.

Dr. Buck's Carefree Beauty Rose was one of the first to receive the designation of Earth-Kind Rose.  Earth-Kind is a specialist designation given to rose cultivars by the Texas AgriLife Extension Service. To be designated as Earth-Kind, roses must demonstrate superior pest tolerance, combined with outstanding landscape performance.  They must do well in a variety of soil types, ranging from well-drained acid sands to poorly aerated, highly alkaline clays.  They must also possess excellent heat and drought tolerance.  These roses must also flower prolifically with no pesticides, limited fertilizers, and limited water.  All these characteristics make them efficient growers in all parts of Texas, as well as the rest of the United States.

To achieve Earth-Kind status, plants are evaluated by a team of seven PhD's, which includes horticulturists, plant pathologists, a soil scientist, and an entomologist.  The roses in this program were tested and evaluated over the course of 8 years in trial gardens all over Texas to ensure their viability in all the various growing situations in every possible area of the state.  During that time, no pesticides, chemical or organic, were ever used. This extensive research and testing process makes Earth-Kind Roses the most thoroughly tested, research proven and environmentally responsible landscape roses for use in Texas gardens.

To date, at least six other universities (Colorado State, Iowa State, Kansas State, LSU, University of Minnesota, and the University of Nebraska) have initiated similar Earth-Kind research programs.  These programs support the fact that these roses will not only do well in Texas, but the in rest of the U.S. and other countries as well.

 One of the Texas test gardens was at the University of Texas of the Permian Basin (UTPB) Center for Energy and Economic Diversification (CEED).  The CEED is located near Midland International Airport, halfway between Midland and Odessa -- my own "backyard". This is where my mother and I became very familiar with the various types of Earth-Kind and Buck Roses that were available.  The entire garden flourished out the in the deadly heat all summer and came back each spring, regardless of the preceding winter.  The plants were in constant bloom with colors ranging from a delicate white to a deep, dark red.  We not only became familiar with these roses at the garden, but fell in love with them!  We were both so excited:  finally we could grow roses, too!

 Unfortunately, when the CEED building was renovated and re-landscaped a few years ago, the garden was removed.  It had successfully proven that the roses growing in these harsh conditions were perfectly suited to use in West Texas, as well as in other areas of the Desert Southwest.

 Another of my favorite of the Buck Roses is his cultivar "Quietness", pictured above.  This subtle, delicate beauty was found in Dr. Buck's personal garden in 2000, after his death.  It was officially introduced in 2002 and named "Quietness" to honor those who perished in the attacks on the World Trade Center on September 11, 2001.  It encourages us to reflect on the disaster for a moment of quiet stillness.  Its sturdiness, resilience, and gentle blooms represent not only these characteristics in the families of those who lost their lives, but also stands as a testament to these qualities in our great nation, as well. 

If you would like to try Earth-Kind Roses for yourself, there are only a few planting and maintenance issues you should consider.  You should plant these roses in a location where they will receive full direct sunlight for at least 8 hours a day.  Plan your space so that when the bushes are fully grown, they will have at least 1 foot of space all the way around to facilitate good air movement.  This reduces the potential for foliage diseases.  Even though these plants are normally resistant to disease, it is possible for them to become diseased if they don't have enough room to grow and breathe.

Mutabilis New Bloom
To prepare the beds for planting Earth-Kind Roses, make sure you utilize soil with an adequate balance of aeration, drainage and water-holding characteristics.  The plants will benefit from a 3-inch layer of organic mulch that conserves water, reduces weeds, reduces soil-bourne plant diseases, moderates soil temperature, and provides nutrients as it decomposes.


Mutabilis Old Bloom

For sandy and loam soils, you should incorporate 3 - 6 inches of fully decomposed plant-derived compost.  If you have clay soils, consider a one-time incorporation of 3 inches of expanded shale to improve soil aeration, drainage, and to make the soil much easier to work.  Then incorporate 3 inches of fully decomposed plant-derived compost.  Thoroughly mix the existing soil, expanded shale, and compost into a uniform planting medium. Compost can be used in place of expanded shale.  It is also better with this type of soil to create raised beds for planting.  These should be crowned higher in the center to promote drainage.
New Dawn Climbing Rose--Early May

Maintenance of Earth-Kind Roses is simple.  Water thoroughly when the soil is dry in the root zone to a depth of one inch.  Watering established plants too frequently can promote disease, especially in poorly drained soils.  Do not sprinkler-irrigate these types of roses, especially at night.  Drip irrigation is much better.  Use this method especially in places where you have soft or otherwise naturally "salty" water to eliminate burning of foliage.  Regardless of what type of watering you do -- even with just a garden hose, like I do, make sure you water only at the base of the plant.  Water droplets, salty or not, will cause burning, if not wiped off immediately.

 Remove dead, diseased, or broken branches to help promote plant health.  "Deadhead" spent flower blooms to promote continued flowering.  Replenish the mulch as needed to maintain the 3-inch layer.  Fertilization and pest control should not be needed.



I recommend trying a Belinda's DreamTM Rose to start with.  This was the first rose to be designated Earth-Kind.  It was also the first rose to be named a "Texas Superstar".  This program promotes plants that not only survive, but thrive in what can be a variety of harsh conditions here in Texas.

 Belinda's DreamTM is my favorite of the Earth-Kind roses.   This one was introduced in 1992 by Dr. Robert Basye in Texas.  Dr. Basye was an associate of Dr. Buck.  He was a Mathematics Professor at Texas A&M who loved his roses and bred them for over 50 years.  His idea was parallel to that of Dr. Buck:  that old species roses were naturally resistant to disease and hardy during the winters, even in cold areas.  Why wasn't that the case with modern hybrid roses from which they were bred?  Dr. Basye developed and patented several cultivars of roses during his lifetime.

 The Belinda's DreamTM is the most famous and easily the most successful of Dr. Basye's cultivars.  It was named after the daughter of one of his close friends.  The plant is classed as a Medium Shrub Rose.  Its average height and width is about 5 feet by 5 feet, so space the bushes about 7 feet apart on centers.  This rose should be planted in full sun where it will receive at least 8 hours of sun each day.  Its blooms have a strong fragrance and a medium pink color.  The size of the blooms is amazing as they have the appearance of an Old World "cabbage" rose.  They are fully double with more than 100 petals, usually around 4 or more inches in diameter.  This rose sports successive flushes of bloom in spring, summer and fall.  It is hardy in zones 5 - 9.  You should keep this rose moist until it is established (usually about one month) and then just average watering during the growing season.
Belinda's Dream Rose Bloom

 Belinda's DreamTM was bred in Texas to withstand hot temperatures, but does very well in temperate climates as well.  It may be susceptible to some blackspot in cool, damp weather, but its vigor and blooming will not be affected by the disease.  Light pruning and deadheading improves its appearance and blooming frequency. 
Belinda's Dream Blooms
When harvested and hung upside down to dry in a cool, dark place, the blooms develop the creamy pale pink--almost white--consistency of crepe paper and look much like dried peonies due to their large size and huge number of petals.  Once dried, use them in dried floral arrangements or to bulk up your potpourri. They retain a slight spice fragrance after drying and remain lovely for many years.

Although Belinda's DreamTM and other Earth-Kind Roses are not known as self-seeders, a dropped hip from one of my plants managed to germinate.  The "baby rose" is now five years old and is nearly as large as its parent plant.  It has bloomed as profusely as its parent plant and is covered by lush foliage.

As long as it is planted in full sun, Belinda's DreamTM will delight you and provide your garden with beautiful and continuous color and fragrance for many decades to come!  I strongly encourage you to give this and the other Earth-Kind Roses a try, no matter where you live!

Please leave any questions or comments you have regarding Earth-Kind Roses below, or drop me an email at angelasblogemail@gmail.com .  I will be happy to provide you with additional growing tips, suggest cultivars to try, information on where to purchase the roses, or just to answer any questions you may have about these wonderful, incredible, tough plants!

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